บททั้งหมดของ The Second Wife's Revenge : บทที่ 31 - บทที่ 40

Twenty-three faces stared at me. The grand jury. Regular people called to decide if there was enough evidence to charge Julian Cross with crimes.The prosecutor, Jennifer Marks, stood beside a screen. Ready to show evidence."Ms. Winters, how did you meet Flynn Lancaster?"I'd told this story before. To police. To FBI. To reporters. But this time mattered most."Three years ago. At a charity gala. He approached me. Said he'd been watching me all evening.""Did that concern you?""No. I thought it was flattering. I didn't know he'd been literally watching me. Tracking me. For over a year."Jennifer pulled up surveillance photos. Flynn's private investigators had taken them. Me at the gym. At coffee shops. Walking to work."He stalked you?""Yes. He knew I was Alessandra Ashford. The missing heiress. He targeted me deliberately.""For what purpose?""Money. My trust fund is worth forty-seven million dollars. He married me to access it."Gasps from some jurors. Others taking notes.Jenni

Katherine Price's laptop contained more than financial records. It contained everything.The complete membership list. Every person who'd ever joined The Covenant. Two hundred and seventeen names.Santos spread the documents across the conference table. "This is unbelievable.""It's worse than unbelievable," Rachel said. She was scrolling through names on her tablet. "Senator Michaels. Governor Brennan. Federal Judge Carson. These are some of the most powerful people in the country.""How far does this go?" Marcus asked."Nationwide. Members in forty-three states. Positions of power everywhere. Law enforcement. Judiciary. Legislature. Business."I stared at the list. Recognizing some names. People I'd seen on TV. In newspapers. Respected. Powerful. Corrupt."They've been operating for twenty years," Katherine said quietly. "Protecting each other. Eliminating threats. Building power."Santos was on his phone. "We need DOJ involved. This is bigger than FBI.""It's bigger than anything,"

Everyone else went to bed early. Exhaustion finally winning.Sienna with Sofia in the nursery. Dante keeping watch outside her door.Rachel in the guest room. Already asleep when I'd passed by.Victor in his room. Coughing. The cancer getting worse.Just Marcus and me remained. On the porch. Stars overhead. Cold air biting."You should go inside," he said. "It's freezing.""I like the cold. Makes me feel awake. Real."He moved closer. Not touching. Just present."How are you? Really?""I don't know anymore. Numb. Exhausted. Scared. All of it at once.""That's normal.""Nothing about this is normal."We stood in silence. The woods around us dark and quiet."I can't do this anymore," Marcus said suddenly.My chest tightened. "Can't do what?""Pretend I don't love you."The words hung in the cold air. Visible almost. Real."Marcus…""I know. You're not ready. You're still married to Flynn legally. You're processing trauma. You need time. I know all of it.""Then why say it?""Because I'm

Back at the cabin, I felt lighter. Seeing Flynn had done what I needed. Closed a door.Marcus met me at the entrance. "How was it?""Necessary. He's exactly who I thought he was. A coward. A manipulator. Nothing more.""Did he say anything worth hearing?""He said he was sorry. But sorry means nothing from someone like him."Marcus pulled me close. "You're stronger than you know.""I don't feel strong. I feel tired.""Same thing sometimes."We went inside. Everyone waiting. Wanting to know what happened.I told them everything. Flynn's appearance. His words. His empty apology."He wanted me to believe he loved me. Even now. Even in prison. Still trying to control the narrative.""Did you believe him?" Sienna asked."No. Flynn doesn't love anyone. He uses people. That's all he knows how to do."Victor nodded. "I've known men like him. The Covenant was full of them. They mistake possession for affection. Control for love.""He's getting his deal," I said. "Jennifer confirmed it. Flynn t

The meeting with Cross was scheduled for ten AM. But first, we had to deal with the fallout.Rachel called an emergency meeting at the cabin. Everyone present."The DOJ finalized Cross's immunity agreement this morning," she said. "It's official. He testifies, he walks.""Without consulting us," I said."They consulted. You disagreed. They did it anyway. That's how federal cases work.""That's how injustice works."Rachel's jaw tightened. "Aria, I understand you're angry. But you're letting emotion override logic.""Emotion? Gloria is dead because of him. That's not emotion. That's fact.""And three hundred other people will be arrested because of his testimony. That's also fact. You have to weigh them.""I don't have to weigh anything. He ordered a murder. He doesn't get immunity. It's simple.""Nothing about this is simple."Marcus stood beside me. "Rachel, I usually agree with you. But not this time. Cross doesn't deserve to walk. Not after what he's done.""It's not about deserve.